When I was younger, things just seemed to matter more. Authors were speaking to me and me only. Books had the power to make me crumble and cry. Stories were worth fretting about for months on end.

Sometimes I miss those days.

Often I write about those days.

Last month, years after I thought they were gone forever, I returned to those days.

It all started when my friend recommended I read High Fidelity. From the opening words of the opening paragraph, I knew, this was different. This was special. This was mine.

Last month Nick Hornby was speaking to me and me only.

I think historians would call this a return to Classical Jillian.

One day I will tell Mr. Hornby just how much last month meant to me. Maybe I’ll run into him at a coffee shop in North London, or perhaps we’ll catch each other’s eyes at an Arsenal game. Even better, our conversation could take place at Heathrow, because everyone knows all enchanted things happen at Heathrow!

I don’t want to get ahead of myself here, but I’m smelling a book: My Five Minutes With Nick Hornby And How It Prompted Me To Change My Life For Good And Also Love Actually: A Memoir.

Catchy, right?

As soon as I see Nicholas, I’ll blurt out, “TheQueenShouldKnightYouAndIt’sACrimeSheHasn’t!” He will laugh, of course, because he’s nothing if not a great sense of humor. I will laugh, too, and decide (wisely) not to mention the Tumblr I created just for his quotes. I’ll also decide not to let him know I call him Nicholas, because, well, obviously.

And then we’ll go our separate ways, smiling a bit, okay with that moment. Because really it wasn’t about that moment, anyway. It was about last month.

7 Responses to “The Month I Fell In Love With Nick Hornby”

Jill! I have read all of Nick Hornby’s books… he’s my favourite author, hands down, and has been for like 10+ years. I discovered One Day by David Nicholls through Nick Hornby’s recommendation! I can’t believe we’ve never talked about this. You should watch the movie High Fidelity if you haven’t because John Cusack was amazing.

[…] Nick Hornby is writing about the World Cup for ESPN! And I’m reading it! I’m reading it all. I’m also reading This is Where I Leave You which is the second book I’ve checked out in two months where the cover has compared the author to Nick Hornby and it’s like, oh please. […]